Monemvassia, Greece--Day 7

Monemvassia, Greece is a 985 foot high crag sticking up out of the sea. The Lower Town has been restored and has many shops and homes to walk by. There was an upper town at one time and there is a wall encircling the whole city. It is the dark area on the picture of the crag, not the village you see in the foreground on the other island.

It was used as a refuge in the 8th century when the Greeks fleeing the Slav invasion of Lakonia settled there and was almost impregnable by their enemies.

The only way into the Lower Town is through a tunnel with a gate and there are cobblestone streets and stone buildings throughout. We walked along the wall and then had to come back as there was no way over to the gate area.

The shops were full of wooden products made out of olive wood and handicrafts, jewelry and glassware.

James rented a moped and we traveled across the bridge and strait joining the crag to the village on the island and then up this hill to the gate and the Lower Town built into the crag. You had to park it outside the gate. Someone took a picture of me riding on the back of the moped and said, "Now that is trust." Notice my purse I bought in Venice that can be a back pack as well. Worked out very nicely.

Then we took the moped all around the other island and James looked for places to go snorkeling. I also saw the largest watermelon I have ever seen in my life there.

James later took some of the guys to that different areas to snorkel and they were impressed he knew the island so well. I went back to the ship, and to Tea and to nap--as an old lady should occasionally.

As we looked over the walls we could see some people swimming in the water below and there were little steps built for them to get down into the sea. We couldn't figure out how to get where they were though. It was like they were coming out of their homes right to the sea. The water was so clear and such a beautiful color. This was the only day I sweated a little as we walked and climbed but the air was great for my skin.

This is a better view of the Lower Town built into the crag...